Facsimile Apparatus With Data Transfer Function

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an operation of the apparatus required when a recording paper has run out.

2. Description of the Related Art

A facsimile apparatus generally has a roll of recording paper. When the apparatus detects the fact that the recording paper has nearly run out, the apparatus does not receive an image data even if the apparatus is called, and instead supplies a transmission error message to the transmission side and also supplies a demand to an exchanger to open the line. Thus, the transmission/reception of image data is disabled. In this case, there occurs no problem if an operator on the reception side immediately finds that the recording paper runs short and supplies a new one. If the recording paper is not supplied, however, the transmission/reception of image data is kept disabled.

Under the situation, in order to prevent the disabling of transmission/reception due to the running short of recording paper when the operator is not present at the receiver side or does not find the lack of recording paper, there has been proposed a facsimile apparatus having a memory for storing the transmitted image data when the recording paper has run out before the reception of image data or when the recording paper becomes run out during the reception of image data, instead of printing the data on the recording paper. This function is called a substitute reception. The stored image data is read out and printed on the recording paper, when the recording paper is supplied to the apparatus.

In this type of apparatus, however, if the memory is filled with image data with the recording paper being not supplied to the apparatus, the same problem, as mentioned above, will occur. In general, the memory has a small capacity corresponding only to the image data of several pages; therefore, if the operator is not present at the receiving side, the memory is soon filled with data and the transmission/reception is disabled. Though it is possible to increase the capacity of the memory, this will incur an increase in manufacturing cost of the facsimile apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus having a simple structure, wherein disabling of data reception due to the absence of a recording medium is prevented.

The facsimile apparatus of the present invention comprises means for detecting the presence/absence of a recording medium, image storage means for for storing a received image data, number storage means for storing a subscriber's number of a predetermined facsimile apparatus, and means for transferring the image data stored in the image storage means to the predetermined facsimile apparatus based on the subscriber's number stored in the number storage means.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when the recording medium has run out, the image data is temporarily stored in the image storage means to carry out a substitute reception. Then, the image data is automatically transferred to another facsimile apparatus and is printed on the recording medium set in the other facsimile apparatus. It is therefore unnecessary to keep the image data, received by the substitute reception, in the image storage means for a long time. Disabling of data reception due to the absence of the recording medium is thus prevented, even without increasing the capacity of the image storage means.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of the first embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of facsimile apparatuses 1-1, . . . , 1-n to which different subscriber's numbers are assigned. It is assumed that these facsimile apparatuses 1-1 to 1-n are managed by the same subscriber and are located at the different sections in the same office. Since each apparatus has the same structure, only the apparatus 1-1 will be described in detail.

An image scanner 10 reads image data of an original (not shown) to be transmitted set in the apparatus. The scanner 10 supplies an image signal corresponding to the read data to a coder 12. The coder 12 codes the input image signal and produces image data. The image data is fed to a modem (modulator/demodulator) 18 through a bus line 16 of a control unit 14. The image data is modulated by the modem 18 and is output through a network control unit (NCU) 20 to a subscriber's line and an exchanger (not shown). If the apparatuses 1-1 to 1-n are connected to extension lines, they are connected to a private branch exchanger. The control unit 14 comprises a microcomputer and has functions such as reading, recording, transmission/reception, substitute reception, and transfer (described later). A dialer 24 for generating a dial pulse corresponding to a dial number of a destination is connected to the network control unit 20. The dialer 24 is connected to the control unit 14 through the bus line 16. Though not shown, a telephone (for dialing) may be connected to the NCU 20.

On the other hand, the image data transmitted to the facsimile apparatus through the communication line is input to the modem 18 through the NCU 20. The image data is demodulated in the modem 18 and is input to a decoder 28 through the bus line 16. The decoder 28 decodes the input image data and reproduces the image signal. The reproduced image signal is fed to a printer 30 and is recorded on a recording paper 31 as an image. When the recording paper 31 is a roll-type, the paper 31, after recording, is cut by a cutter, and resultant paper sheets are stacked in a stacker (not shown). A sensor 40 for detecting the presence/absence of the recording paper 31 is arranged near the recording paper 31. When a roll-type recording paper 31 is used, the sensor 40 detects the diameter of the roll, and detects the absence of paper when the diameter decreases to a predetermined value or less. In this case, the sensor 40 outputs a detection signal to the bus line 16 of the control unit 14. If the recording paper 31 is of the cassette type, the sensor 40 determines whether the cassette is empty or not.

The bus line 16 of the control unit 14 is further connected to a keyboard 32, a display 34, an image memory 36, and a dial number memory 38. The keyboard 32 and the display 34 are arranged on a console panel (not shown). In order to carry out a so-called substitute reception when the absence of recording paper 31 is detected, demodulated image signals are stored in the image memory 36. The dial number memory 38 stores a dial number of another facsimile apparatus, to which the substitute-received image signals stored in the image memory 36 are to be transferred. Thus, the keyboard 32 has many key switches, and includes an operation member for inputting a dial number for normal dialing and registering a dial number in the dial number memory 38. This operation member may be a key switch with number keys, a push-button type switch, or a dial. Here, the destination for transfer of data is probably a facsimile apparatus having a subscriber's number, which is managed by the same subscriber. When a plurality of facsimile apparatuses are provided as destinations, a specific one of the destinations may be determined in advance, or the facsimile apparatuses have the priorities and the destination may be determined according to priorities.

The data receiving operation of the facsimile apparatus 1-1 will now be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 showing the control routine of the control unit 14. In step #12, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is called. If YES in step #12, it is determined in step #14 whether or not the recording paper 31 has run out, on the basis of an output from the sensor 40. If NO in step #14, the control routine advances to step #16 in which the image data is received, demodulated in the modem 18, and decoded in the decoder 28, and then the reproduced image signal is supplied to the printer 30 and the image is printed on the recording paper 31. In step #18, it is determined whether or not recording of one page has been completed. If the recording of one page has not been completed, the control returns to step #14. If YES in step #18, it is determined in step #20 whether or not recording of all pages has been completed. If NO in step #20, the control routine returns to step #14. If YES in step #20, the receiving operation is ended.

If the absence of the recording paper 31 is detected in step #14, it is determined in step #22 whether or not an empty area of the image memory 36 is greater than a predetermined value. If the image memory 36 has a sufficient empty area, the image data is received in step #24, and the substitute reception is carried out. In the substitute reception, the image data demodulated by the modem 18 is written in the image memory 36, instead of the operation of supplying the demodulated data to the decoder 28 for recording. In step #26, it is determined whether or not the image data of all pages has been written in the image memory 36. If NO in step #26, the empty area of the memory 36 is checked once again in step #22. If YES in step #26, a request for disconnection of the line is sent to the exchanger, and the line is opened. If it is determined in step #22 that the memory 36 has no sufficient empty area, a transmission error message is sent to the transmission side in step #23. In this case, the substitute reception is not carried out, and the line is immediately opened in step #28. In other words, in the case where the recording paper 31 has run out, the substitute reception is performed with use of the image memory 36; however, if the image memory 36 is filled with data during the substitute reception, the substitute reception is stopped and the transmission error message is sent to the transmitter side.

Once the line is opened, a dialing operation is carried out in step #30. A predetermined dial number is read out from the dial number memory 38, and the dialer 24 generates a dial pulse in accordance with the readout dial number. When the apparatus is connected to a destination facsimile apparatus, the image data stored in the image memory 36 is transferred to the destination apparatus in step #32. Thus, the image data stored by the substitute reception is automatically transferred to the destination facsimile apparatus having the dial number stored in the dial number memory 38. After the transfer of the data, the display 34 displays data denoting the transfer destination. Thus, the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1-1 is completed.

According to the first embodiment, if the apparatus is called, the presence/absence of the recording paper is first detected. If there is the recording paper, the image data is received and the received data is recorded on the recording paper. If there is no recording paper, the substitute reception is performed and the image data is written in the memory. After the substitute reception, the apparatus calls a predetermined destination facsimile apparatus based on the dial number read out from the dial number memory. Then, the image data stored in the memory is automatically transferred to the destination apparatus and is recorded on the recording paper in the destination apparatus. Therefore, even if the capacity of the image memory for the substitute reception is not increased, disabling of data reception due to the absence of recording paper is prevented. Since the data transfer is performed after the line is once opened, it is not necessary to change the control system of the exchanger. In the prior art, when a plurality of facsimile apparatuses are used by one subscriber and one of them is assigned with a key number, the recording paper is likely to run out in the apparatus having the key number, and the reception of only apparatus having the key number may be disabled. According to the first embodiment of the invention, when the recording paper has run out in the facsimile apparatus having the key number, the image data is transferred to another facsimile apparatus. Therefore, the recording paper in the other facsimile apparatus can be used effectively and disabling of data reception of the apparatus having the key number is prevented.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment comprises a first type of facsimile apparatuses 2-1 to 2-n and a second type of facsimile apparatus 3. The facsimile apparatuses 2-1 to 2-n of the first type do not have the decoder 28, printer 30, recording paper 31 and sensor 40, which are provided in the facsimile apparatuses 1-1 to 1-n of the first embodiment. The facsimile apparatus 3 of the second type does not have the image memory 36 and the dial number memory 38 associated with the substitute reception and transfer operation, which are provided in the facsimile apparatuses 1-1 to 1-n of the first embodiment. In addition, in the facsimile apparatus 3, a roll-type recording paper 31A, which is greater in size (i.e. diameter) than the recording paper 31 used in the facsimile apparatuses 1-1 to 1-n, can be mounted. Namely, the first type of facsimile apparatuses 2-1 to 2-n are used exclusively for substitute reception, and recording functions thereof are omitted, resulting in reduction in size and manufacturing cost. All image data received by the facsimile apparatuses 2-1 to 2-n are printed by the facsimile apparatus 3; therefore, the operator may monitor the presence/absence of the recording paper only in the facsimile apparatus 3, and needs not to monitor the presence/absence of the recording paper in the facsimile apparatuses 2-1 to 2-n.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modification may be made within the scope of the subject matter of the invention. For example, though transfer destination data is only displayed in the first embodiment, this data may be recorded on recording paper when the paper is supplied to the apparatus in order to inform the operator of the destination facsimile. In the substitute reception, the image data may be transferred simultaneously to a plurality of apparatuses. In the embodiments, the transfer of data is performed each time the substitute reception is completed. However, it is possible to omit the transfer of each time of substitute reception and to transfer the stored image data when it is detected that the amount of an empty area of the image memory is smaller than a predetermined value. The destination facsimile apparatus does not necessarily have the substitute reception function or the transfer function. It is possible that only a facsimile apparatus with a key number may have the substitute reception function and the transfer function, and other facsimile apparatuses managed by the same subscriber may not have them. In the second embodiment, two or more of facsimile apparatuses of the second type, which have recording paper and correspond to the facsimile apparatus 3, may be provided. In this case, the second type of apparatuses need to have the substitute reception function and the transfer function. The substitute reception data may be transferred through an exclusive transfer line, and not through a communication line such as the subscriber's line. In this case, the dial number memory is needless. When the exclusive transfer line is used, image data may be transferred not to the facsimile apparatus but to a printing unit such as a laser beam printer having an image data reception function and a recording function for printing the received image data.

As has been described above, the present invention provides a facsimile apparatus having an image memory and being able to perform a substitute reception of writing received image data in the image memory when the recording paper has run out. In this apparatus, there are provided a dial number memory and a dialer, and the image data written in the image memory in the substitute reception is automatically transferred to another destination facsimile apparatus after the substitute reception. The image data is printed on a recording paper in the transfer destination facsimile apparatus. By virtue of these features, the structure of the apparatus is simplified, and the disabling of data reception due to the absence of the recording paper is prevented.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatuses, and illustrated embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.